Ties get big boost but more needed to get back to normal

A lot more, however, needs to be done before the ties can be fully normalised, observers say.

The Saudi Arabian Embassy was happy and sent a big "Thank You" note to the Thai government. But Charge d'Affaires Nabil Ashri would not get ahead of himself when the Thai media started pressing the possibility of Riyadh reopening the labour market for Thai workers, who numbered in the hundreds of thousands two decades ago before relations took a dive.

"This is the most meaningful development between the two countries in ages," he told The Nation in a telephone interview. "This is a very big step forward."

He has seen and learned enough to be cautious. The decision to prosecute Pol Lt-General Somkid Boonthanom, chief of Region 5 police, and four other suspects came more as a relief after prosecutors late last month postponed deciding whether to take them to court. Earlier, many lights at the end of the tunnel proved deceitful, as the case bogged down in Thailand's own political turbulence.

The envoy said attention could now be paid to the other two cases, strongly believed to be related to the disappearance of Mohammad al-Ruwaili. The Saudi jewellery theft and its infamous consequences, as well as the murders of three Saudi diplomats shortly before the alleged kidnapping and murder of al-Ruwaili, remain a thorn in bilateral relations.

Thailand has longed for a reopening of the labour market and return of Saudi tourists, but other trade ties have not been as badly affected. Bilateral trade reached US$9.2 billion (Bt304 billion) in 2008. Of that, Thai exports grew 40.62 per cent to $1.94 billion, while imports climbed 58.8 per cent to $7.26 billion.

Bilateral trade value between the two countries was worth up to $5.04 billion in the first 11 months of last year. Exports from Thailand to Saudi Arabia dropped 8.28 per cent to $1.63 billion, while imports plunged 49.68 per cent to $3.41 billion.

Major export products are motor cars, parts and accessories, rice, iron and steel, refined fuel, machinery and parts, preserved fish, refrigerators, rubber products, air-conditioners and washing machines. Thailand imports from Saudi Arabia primarily crude oil, fertiliser and pesticides, chemicals, finished oils, natural gas and fabrics.

"Reopening of the labour market would be great news," said Employment Department deputy director-general Supat Kukhun. "The Saudi market has been shut for so long that the situation today is different from when we sent hundreds of thousands of workers there 20 years ago. But if the door is open for Thai workers once again, we believe at least tens of thousands of jobs will be available, as Thai labour is well known for its skills, efficiency and creativity."

The Saudi Embassy's press statement expressed high hopes, wide gratitude and heartfelt willingness to cooperate and solve the lingering issues but would not touch upon when the labour market would be reopened.

"The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been waiting for this day for almost 20 years, and the latest developments mark an important step towards the final settlement of all issues," it said. "[We] encourage Thai authorities to reach a speedy conclusion to all the pending cases."